An Examination of the Changing Hydrological Environment in Choctaw County Mississippi since 1995, With a Focus on an Area Surrounding an Industrial Complex established in 1998.

Abstract:

Since 1995, Choctaw County in Mississippi has experienced a number of major changes, including population growth and the addition to industrial complexes, including surface mining. The growth of population can put a strain on the available surface and ground water drinking resources. The use of the water resources by the industrial complexes by altering the landscape above and around the water resources can further strain the water supply, as well as affect the water chemistry.

The population and industrial complexes of Choctaw County utilizes much of its water from an aquifer system in the Tertiary age Wilcox unit of the Mississippi Embayment, which includes the Meridian Upper-Wilcox Aquifer, the Middle Wilcox Aquifer and the Lower Wilcox Aquifer. Utilizing 20 years of physical chemistry (P-Chem) analysis and potentiometric ground water level records of Choctaw County public water wells as well as industrial P-Chem analysis and surface water and ground water level records from Choctaw County, this study examined the changes to the hydrological environment that has taken place since the increase in population and addition of significant additional industries since 1995.

Analysis of the surface and groundwater data shows that over the last 20 years, there has been a drop in the potentiometric surface of the Meridian Upper Wilcox Aquifer, Middle Wilcox Aquifer, and the Lower Wilcox Aquifer. The analysis also shows changes in the in the water chemistry of the surface and ground water supplies, changes such as a general decrease in free carbon dioxide, a decrease in chloride, and fluxuations in the Alkalinity (T) as CaCO­₃.